I kill all bugs in the house. They weren't invited. Outside, I leave them alone unless they build a web across a path or doorway.
I have never killed a spider. (And they have never bitten me even once.) They are just too efficient at eating other disgusting insects but if there get to be more than a couple I take them outside. Same policy on ladybugs.
Percentages have nothing to do with it. It’s the total in number is what it is all about. If 100 brown widows are replaced by 100 black widows …… what’s the dif? Surely you don't imagine you'll eventually kill all the spiders and be rid of them once and for all?
I am a bonsai "gardener" so I allow certain species of spiders to run free on all of my plants/trees for the purpose of pest control. The nasty ones outside my house get removed while the nasty ones inside my house (that bite us in our sleep) get flattened on sight. Over here we have ladybug swarms and they can be a bother from time to time.
Sorry. My mistake! I meant to say black with red spots. Are you also from up here? If you keep your eyes peeled you can see a few but they are rare.
I’m in Amsterdam. Don’t see a whole lot of bugs really and mainly spiders. Mice are more of a problem, really
When I was living alone I usually left most spiders in the house as long as they had a somewhat tolerable size (large ones freak me out if I don't know where they're sitting). Nowadays my wife is calling the shots, so I take them outside.
I have no problem with spiders and house centipedes. All they do is eat other pests. I don't see them often in the living area of my home, but I do see them often in my unfinished basement. I leave them alone to do their work.
Oh. Your avatar made me think that you are up here. I am guessing the abundance of spiders is the main reason you don't see many "bugs"? I see a rat about once every 5 years but I don't remember seeing a mouse except out in the forest.
Mice are everywhere here. We need more cats. Spiders are my friends but I’m sure they would kill and eat me if I were small enough. My grandmother was 100 percent Swedish and she taught me the language and I’ve been there but it’s just too cold Rats are more a US thing I think and I despise them and it takes specialized dogs to deal with them. I hate them!
Have you been to Cairo? The cats are mangier than the rats. Definitely. Cold? You should come to southern Sweden today. We've been having nearly 30º all week.
Sorry to go slightly off topic but unfortunately, I had to kill a 2 foot long copperhead snake yesterday that had crawled up on my back porch and attracted the attention of one of my cats. I was reading and birdwatching on the porch when I noticed Audry (the cat) jump back from under the chair in which I was sitting and noticed the snake. Because we have 2 cats and 2 dogs, I had no choice but to kill the beautiful creature with a nearby wrought iron fireplace shovel I had made. I regret having to kill the snake but would have regretted it even more if it had killed one of my cats or dogs. Normally, I don't mind sharing my house with other creatures but I have to draw the line at the deadly ones.
Thank you. I know that I didn't have much choice but I hate to have to kill anything. The copperhead, like virtually all creatures, is a beautiful reptile and has an amazing design on its body but I have to protect my dogs and cats who would most certainly have died if they had been bitten. Because I live in a rural area, I frequently have to kill rabid, wounded, sick or injured creatures who are suffering and it doesn't get any easier. My wife & I don't even kill most insects and usually just put them outdoors.
There was an Australian snake that stalked a family’s dog and eventually consumed the dog (anaconda I think). The family then called animal control who captured the snake. The family could still see the back legs of their pet and asked if it could be removed so they could bury it properly. They were told no as the claws might harm the snake!? I guess it is protected Anyway my point is that this is what happens when you wait too long. So you did the right thing. I will kill roaches and mosquitoes on sight and flies when I can but never a spider. If I know it to be venomous I will call animal control as I don’t know how to remove it safely and there are children to consider.
